 | If you have young children, The Compassion Storybook Bible is a great introduction to important people in both the Old and New Testaments. I love the adorable illustrations by Sue Schlesman. Author Crystal Bowman’s retellings are engaging and written on a level young children can understand. Each chapter focuses on a Bible character. Lots of value in these 200 pages including “Talk About It” questions, a simple prayer, and Scripture basis. Highly recommended! |
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 I gave The Christmas Elephant five stars on Amazon. This unique, delightful retelling of the nativity story feature children performing a Christmas play, but there's a twist. Ellie wants to be an elephant and there were no elephants in the manger when Jesus was born. With gentle conflict and lots of heart, this story will stay with you a long time after you read it, much like the young elephant who never forgets. As you can see the cover, the illustrations by Laura Zarrin are charming. Destined to be added to your cherished collection of Christmas read-alouds. I was given a free copy for helping promote this book. So glad I was! Maria used elements from her own life as a stage manager and perfectionist along with her niece's love of elephants to write this book. A sweet story you will want to read each Christmas. Just released from Paraclete Press, this debut from Maria is a treasure!
 If you’re looking for a down-to-Earth book to share the Bible with young children, I highly recommend author Laura Sassi’s My Tender Heart Devotions. Geared to children ages 0-6, the easy-to read format includes an endearing poem, Bible verse, fun facts, and “Heart Moment” activity/prayer to reinforce the theme. Fifty-two comforting themes range from rocket ships and sailboats to puppies and kittens, one for each week of the year. Sandra Eide’s sweet illustrations show kids experiencing everyday activities. A wonderful addition to the Tender Heart series! I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Released this month from Paraclete Press. Looking forward to sharing it with my granddaughter!
 This unique book successfully tells a love story from the perspective of a paper crane(!). It's starts with a boy learning how to fold a paper crane with help from his grandmother. I found it charming. The boy's story arc show joy, fear and sorrow with the paper crane always ready to love, protect, and comfort. But then the boy grows up and doesn't need the paper crane. It gets dusty and when it becomes hidden behind the photo of a girl, it "fumes." I won't give away the (happy) ending, but know it's satisfying and joyful encompassing both hope and redemption. The illustrations by Sonia Sanchez are outstanding--they embody the mood, in bold images of brightness and darkness in each scene. I received a free copy of this book from Storystorm. So glad I did!
 If you like humorous dog books, you'll love this one! As they are leaving the house, a boy asks his mom, "What does Dudley do all day when we go out?" The boy sees everything they discuss in the car and at the grocery store from a child's perspective. "He eats" to the boy means flipping pancakes. The boy imagines "He naps" as sleeping in bed with a boy doll to cuddle with. As you can tell from the cover, the illustrations by Renee Andriani are perfect! On the way home the boy asks his mom "Do you think Dudley wonders what WE do all day?" The artwork shows people do what dogs do. I can imagine the giggles when kids see the dog's perspective of the boy and his mother sniffing tree trunks and burying bones. A delightful read! I won a copy of this book from Writers' Rumpus. So much fun!
 I created a list and reviews of recommended Christian Earth Day books for children on Shepherd.com, which is owned by Ben (Welch-Bolen) Fox. After my own Earth Day picture book released in the fall of 2023, I looked for other books that teach children to take care of Earth through the lens of their faith. Books by Eileen Spinelli, Shannon Cook, Louie Giglio, Betsy Painter, and Laura Alary. Read all my reviews here: shepherd.com/best-books/christian-earth-day-books-for-kidsshepherd.com/best-books/christian-earth-day-books-for-kids
 What a delightful book! Author Jodi Moore elevates this summer, beach story mixing fantasy and reality. It's starts, "If you build a perfect sand castle, a dragon will move in." What fun the boy and dragon have together! Of course, no one believes the boy. The dragon's roar is the ocean, his teeth are simply shells. A feather from his wing is a seagull's feather--or so each member of his family says. Until the boy's (of course, he blames the dragon) rude behavior gets him in trouble and...I won't spoil the twist ending. The illustrations by Howard McWilliam are adorable. So glad I won a copy of this book from the "Seasons of Kidlit" blog! I'm going to keep it here for our grandchildren to read and as a mentor text for me to refer to when I write my own humorous picture book.
 Comfort is the word that sums up best-selling author Lisa Tawn Bergren’s new picture book, God is Here. It begins with a little girl asking her mother a question, “Mama, where is God?” The question is answered as they walk around the city from strolling through the park, to stopping by the hospital nursery, to giving food to a homeless man. It’s easy for the girl to see that God is with the newborn babies, but not the homeless man. She whispers, “But God’s not here, is he?” Her mother assures her God is “always with people who are in need.” Mother and daughter travel other places, too, shown in Greg Stobbs’s lovely illustrations. The conversation is at once casual, but also deep, touching on Jesus’ death and our salvation. I love the relationship, care, and compassion this ethnically diverse family shows as they talk about the mystery of God’s presence in their everyday lives. Ending as the girl drifts off to sleep with her bunny, reading this book at bedtime with help calm and reassure young children of God’s omnipresence.
It's finally here! My picture book birthday. God's Earth is Something to Fight For (Sunbeam/Bushel & Peck Books) is out in the world! Would you celebrate with me?  |
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